HIST201: History of Europe, 1000 to 1800

Unit 9: Social and Economic Change in the Eighteenth CenturyThe end of the bubonic plague and the absence of devastating wars
opened the door to significant changes in society and economy during the
1700s. Population growth skyrocketed and created an unprecedented
demand for food. This in turn spurred an agricultural revolution in
which land was improved and transformed into viable farmland.
Meanwhile, the rise of the cottage industry—the production of goods in
the home rather than in the factory—fueled the growth of manufacturing
and urbanization. At the same time, European nations created an
Atlantic economy that centered upon the African slave trade, New World
plantation produce, and European textiles and manufactured goods.

In addition, many changes were wrought in the domestic sphere. New
developments in the structure of European society and economy in the
eighteenth century had a significant impact upon marriage, family,
medicine, nutrition, and religious beliefs. With the rise of
manufacturing, many European women began to work, and this altered
patterns of marriage and childbearing. Improved diet and better
medicine translated into a longer lifespan for many Europeans. Also, as
nation-states became increasingly consolidated throughout Europe, the
“vernacular”—the regional or national language or dialect—was
increasingly emphasized in schools and churches.

In this unit, we will consider how and why European population growth,
agricultural transformations, new developments in manufacturing, and the
rise of an Atlantic economy were so interconnected. We will also see
how manufacturing and the agricultural revolution influenced Europeans’
daily lives and belief systems.

Unit 9 Time Advisory
This unit should take you approximately 6.5 hours to complete.

☐ Subunit 9.1: 1 hour

☐ Subunit 9.2: 1.5 hours

☐ Subunit 9.3: 2.5 hours

☐ Subunit 9.4: 1.5 hours

Unit9 Learning Outcomes
Upon successful completion of this unit, the student will be able to:

Identify the longterm changes that brought about the industrial
revolution.

Describe the effects of economic changes on everyday life in 18th
century Europe.

Define the major features of the economic theories of the time
period.

Instructions: Please read both articles linked above in their
entirety. The first reading will give you a sense of the scope and
impact of the agrarian revolution in England. The second reading
describes how the agricultural revolution was one of many factors
setting the stage for the Industrial Revolution. These readings
also cover the topic outlined in sub-subunit 9.1.2.
Terms of Use: Please respect the copyright and terms of use
displayed on the webpage above.

Instructions: Please watch the entire 1-hour lecture by Yale
biologist Robert Wyman. From watching this video lecture, you will
get a sense of the reasons why Europe experienced a population
explosion in the 1700s and why some political economists, such as
Thomas Malthus, worried that the population might exceed the food
supply.

Terms of Use: Please respect the copyright and terms of use
displayed on the webpage above.

9.2.2 Cottage Industry or Proto-Industrialization
- Reading: University of Nevada, Las Vegas: Dr. Gregory Brown’s
“Proto-Industrialization”
The Saylor Foundation does not yet have materials for this portion
of the course. If you are interested in contributing your content to
fill this gap or aware of a resource that could be used here, please
submit it here.

[Submit Materials](/contribute/)

9.3 Building an Atlantic Economy9.3.1 Mercantilism and Colonial WarsNote: This topic is covered by the resources beneath sub-subunit
9.3.2.

9.3.2 The Growth of Foreign Trade
- Reading: Dr. Joseph E. Inikori’s “The Atlantic World Slave Economy
and the Development Process in England, 1650-1850” and Western New
England College: Professor Gerhard Rempel’s “Mercantilism”
The Saylor Foundation does not yet have materials for this portion
of the course. If you are interested in contributing your content to
fill this gap or aware of a resource that could be used here, please
submit it here.

Instructions: First, please read the encyclopedia article on “Adam
Smith” for some background. Then, read Washington State University
and the Modern History Sourcebook’s excerpts from the Wealth of
Nations.
Perhaps the most influential book of the eighteenth century, Adam
Smith’s *Wealth of Nations,* sharply criticizes the
mercantilism—protective trade policies—that European imperial powers
had embraced for over a century. Smith, a Scottish moral
philosopher, advocates free trade as the most progressive and
beneficial commercial policy of the modern era. In the first
excerpt, he argues that if capital is allowed to travel freely,
rather than being controlled by government or state-supported
monopolies, then it will naturally travel to the most productive
outlets; Smith calls this phenomenon the “invisible hand” of a free
market economy. In the second excerpt, Smith describes how modern
capitalism should work ideally and why this is good for society
overall.
Terms of Use: Please respect the copyright and terms of use
displayed on the webpage above.

Instructions: Please read the entire article linked above. This
reading will give you a sense of Europeans’ medical knowledge in the
eighteenth century.

Terms of Use: Please respect the copyright and terms of use
displayed on the webpage above.

9.4.3 Towns
- Reading: Western New England College: Professor Gerhard Rempel’s
“The 18th Century Town and Its Inhabitants”
The Saylor Foundation does not yet have materials for this portion
of the course. If you are interested in contributing your content to
fill this gap or aware of a resource that could be used here, please
submit it here.